A method of determining the center of loading of a rolling element includes providing a rolling element body and at least three load sensors. The sensors are each positioned within a bore of the rolling element body at a separate distance from a reference position. Load measurements are taken with each one of the sensors at various positions about the circumference of the bearing and the center of loading is calculated at each one of the positions to determine the variation in axial loading about the bearing circumference.

The present invention resides in a sensorized roller of a roller bearing. The sensorized roller includes a roller bore that accommodates a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore and electronics for processing a deformation signal from the measuring device and wirelessly transmitting the processed deformation signal to an external receiver. According to the invention, the measuring device and electronics are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore. A radially outer surface of the housing includes at least one aperture associated with the measuring device. Furthermore, the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing.

A roller bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, at least one row of rollers arranged between the outer ring and the inner ring, and at least one optical fiber cable mounted to the outer ring or the inner ring, the optical fiber cable including at least one Bragg grating. The optical fiber cable is configured such that a signal in the optical fiber cable is usable to determine a preload or load on the roller bearing.

A load cell for determining a radial force acting on a crankshaft includes a receiving sleeve for receiving a ring of a bearing; a fastening ring for attaching the load cell in a transmission housing; axial support areas provided on the fastening ring for axially supporting the ring of the bearing; and measuring regions for receiving radial forces of the receiving sleeve and which connect the receiving sleeve with the fastening ring, wherein strain sensors are attached to at least two of the measuring regions; and wherein the measuring regions comprise measuring lugs formed as angle brackets.

A bearing device includes: at least one bearing that has a rolling element and a raceway surface to support a main shaft; a member disposed on a path through which pressing force generating a preload between the rolling element and the raceway surface is transmitted; and at least one load sensor element fixed to the member to measure the pressing force. At least one load sensor element is a chip component including a thin film pattern of which resistance changes according to the pressing force and a protective layer that insulates and protects thin film pattern.

A sensorized hub bearing unit having at least one strain sensor for detecting, in real time, forces and moments applied to an outer ring of the hub bearing unit, in which a radially outer ring of the hub bearing unit is formed by a coupling of a first annular element and a second annular element arranged coaxially, the second annular element radially fitted and integrally inside the first annular element and at least one strain sensor arranged in line with an interface between the first annular element and the second annular element.

Bearing unit providing a housing and at least one bearing mounted in the housing. The bearing unit includes at least one load sensing element and at least one vibration sensing element fixed on the housing.

A rolling bearing arrangement having a first and a second raceway element, and rolling bodies being arranged between the two raceway elements so that the two raceway elements are rotatable against each other in the manner of a rolling bearing, a space between the raceway elements in which the rolling bodies are rolling off comprising a lubricating grease, at least one sensor element for sensing temperature, at a specific point of the rolling bearing, particularly in the space, and for sensing speed of the rolling bearing and a unit receiving the sensed temperature and speed, calculating from the profiles of the sensed temperature over time and from the speed over time via a calculated energy imposed on the grease a used and/or remaining period of the grease life-time.

Provided is a fractal structure for power-generation of bearing rotating vibration that is installed on an outer ring of a bearing to generate power using vibration generated from a micro whirling motion of the bearing, the fractal structure including a housing which is in contact with the outer ring of the bearing to receive the vibration generated from the micro whirling motion of the bearing, and has a receiving space therein, a flexible element which is disposed in the receiving space while being in contact with an inner circumference of the housing to convert the vibration into a radial direction, and a piezoelectric element which is installed between the housing and the flexible element and disposed near the receiving space, and deforms upon receiving the vibration converted in the radial direction from the flexible element, thereby producing electricity.

A measuring device with a crankshaft and a load cell for determining a radial force acting on the crankshaft having a receiving sleeve for receiving a bearing ring and a fastening ring for attaching the load cell in a transmission housing. Axial support areas are provided on the fastening ring for axially supporting the outer ring of the first bearing. Moreover, measuring regions for receiving radial forces of the receiving sleeve are provided which connect the receiving sleeve with the fastening ring. Strain sensors are attached to at least two of the measuring regions. An evaluation electronics is connected to the strain sensors.